ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Pittsburg State University men's basketball team dug itself another double-digit first-half deficit but this time the No. 25 Gorillas couldn't quite complete the comeback.
 
Missouri Western State University's Currie Byrd hit a pair of critical 3-pointers in the game's final 1:47 after the Gorillas had battled back to tie the score and the Griffons pulled out a 69-66 victory Thursday (Dec. 10) at the MWSU Fieldhouse.
 
The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for Pitt State (7-2, 2-1 MIAA) as the Gorillas fell from a tie atop the conference standings. MWSU improved to 3-6 overall and 1-2 in the MIAA.
 
Trey Sampson made three of four free throws in the final 21 seconds, but his miss with 7.2 seconds to play left the door open for Pitt State to force overtime. Josiah Gustafson rebounded Sampson's miss and rushed the ball upcourt. He found Jaxon Holden at the top of the key but his 25-footer missed at the buzzer.
 
Dakota Jones matched his career high with 23 points on the night, including five of Pitt State's 11 3-pointers in the contest. The Gorillas made 62.5 percent of their shots in the second half, making 15 of 24 shots after struggling through a tepid first half shooting slump (7-22, .318).
 
The Griffons outscored the Gorillas, 17-11, at the foul line. Pitt State converted just 50 percent of its charity shots, making 11 of 22 attempts, while MWSU made 17 of 21 (.810) free throws.
 
Holden, returning to the Pitt State lineup after missing five games with a concussion, scored 11 points, while Trey Starks chipped in with 10
 
Byrd had a team-leading 16 points to pace the Griffons, while Cole Clearman added 15 points.
 
The Gorillas will return to action Sunday (Dec. 13) when they travel to Maryville, Mo., to face MIAA co-leader Northwest Missouri State University at 3:30 p.m. (CST).